Terminal for pneumatic store-service systems.



No. 652,537. 1 Patented June 26, i900.

' H. W. FOBSLUND.

TERMINAL FDR PNEUMATIC STORE SERVICE SYSTEMS.

(Applicationfiled Feb. 6, 1900.)

(N0 Iodel.)

WITNESSES V BY 72 6%TORNE): 9;,

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HUGO WV. FORSLUND, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIG-NOR TO THE NATIONAL PNEUMATIC SERVICE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

TERMINAL FOR PNEUMATIC STORE-SERVICE SYSTEMS.

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 652,537, dated June 26, 1900. Application filed February 6,1900. Serial No. 4,160. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUGO W. FORSLUND, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Chi iers station, usually located in the basement of the building, and a large number of outlying salesmens stations; and my invention resides more particularly in a terminal device for use at a salesmans station of the type technically known in the art as a downward-discharge terminalthat is, one in .20 which the carrier from the central or cashiers station arrives through a tube located above the counter or other point of discharge and is ejected downwardly therefrom on said counter or in a suitable basket or other receptacle for its reception, the carrier being transmitted to the cashiers station through a sending-tube lying parallel with the downwardlyextending receiving-tube; and my invention consists in certain novel, useful, and convenient arrangements and combinations of parts in a terminal of that character, all as hereinafter more particularly described, and pointed out in the claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-;--

Figure 1 is a side elevation, in central vertical section, of a terminal constructed in acf cordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view, and Fig. 3 is a bottom view.

Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Adesignates a counter, table, shelf, or other support at the salesmans station on which the carrier is to be received. On this counter is supported a post or standard B, so located as that a line passing through its longitudinal axis will pass centrally between a pair of parallel downwardly -extending main tubes C and D of the system. At its top the standard B supports a horizon tally-disposed oblong frame or plate E, the latter being centrally secured on said standard, and at its opposite ends and at equal distances from the standard receiving the lower ends of the symmetrically-arranged and outwardly-curved terminal tubes C and D. Of these tubes C is the tube through which the carrier is received from the central or cashiers station, and D is the tube through which the carrier is transmitted to said central or cashiers sta- 6o tiou, said tubes at their upper ends being united to the parallel main receiving and sending tubes C and D of the system in any suitable manner.

The tubes C and D at or near their lower ends have longitudinal apertures c and (1 respectively formed through their opposing walls to permit the free passage of the propelling-current from the receivingto the sending tube, there being formed between such cut-away portions of the tubes an air-tight casing e, forming a guide or by-pass for the current. The receiving-tube C at or nearits lower end is closed by a door or flap F, which may convenientlyand economically consist of a plain leather disk f of the requisite diameter, having a shank f, pivoted or hinged at f to the under side of the lower wall of the casing e and normally held closed to its seat against the action of gravity by the suction of the air-current flowing through the system. The 'lower'end of the sending-tube D is closed by a door or flap G, pivoted at g to a lug on the lower side of the plate E and normally held closed against the action of gravity by the suction of the current, aided by a coiled spring g. s In. order to facilitate the more ready opening of the door G from either side of the terminal and with the least interference by the hand of the operator in the operation 0 of despatching a carrier, I secure in the usual opening knob or lug g a laterally-extending rod 9 the ends of which are obviously more conveniently within reach of an operator on either side of the terminal than the knob or lug itself.

The operation of my improved terminal is obvious from theforegoing description. A carrier from the central or cashiers station arriving by way of the main tube 0 enters I00 into the sending-tube D, and allowing the -door'G, under the action of its spring (I, t0

'at'the cashiers desk.

mode of operation of my improved'terminal,

terminal tubes, with their closing doors,'curre'nt by-ipass, supporting device, and all'ap- -purtenances,-are arranged in one and the same vertical plane, thus enablingthe'terminal to a-minimum of space ona counter or table. sBy disposingthe outwardly-curved receiving anddespatohing tubes C and-D symmetrically hOYl'ZODlJfilzPlt'tG or frame E, I effect a desirable combination of strength and rigidity of partswith a. graceful and pleasing appearancehtoatheeye, and bylocating the current and descends through the outwardly-curved receivin -tube C of the terminal .under the combined impulse of gravity and the propelling-current. The forward end of the carrier impinging upon the hinged door or flap F opens the same against the suction of thecurrent normally tending to keep it closed; and the carrier drops onto the'counter or table A or into a suitable basket or other receptacle (not shown) arranged beneath the dis charging end of tube 0, the door or flap F being instantly drawn closed by the suction of the current after the carrier has been dis-- charged. A carrier to be transmitted to the cashiers station is despatched by simply openin g the door G, thrusting the carrier upwardly close behind the carrier, whereuponthe car-i riereisinstantl-ysubjected to the action of the propelling-current entering'thelower end ofl tube D from the by-pass 6 through the longi-t tudinal apertures d and is carried upward; through-the tubes D and D to its destination *Having'thus described the construction and 5 I:will;poin't out some of the advantages which Ibelieve it possesses over the common form of terminal of this type.

Boththe curved receiving and despatching bemade very narrow laterally and to occupy withu'espect "to the snpportiug-standard B andseeuring their lowerends'rigidly in the bypass '6 adjacent the very ends of the receiving and despatching tubes 0 and -D, I maintainithe impelling effect of the current upon the'carriers to the very point of the dis-;

charge. Furthermore, by reason of thecomfi pact arrangement of the tubes 0 and D, the;

bypass e,'and the supporting-plate E'thesei parts may, if desired, all easily be formed ini a single casting, thus contributing to econ- 5 omy-in the costof manufacture.

Having thus described my invention,'what" I claim as new, and desire to secure-by Letters Patent, is

1. In a downward-discharge terminal for pneumatic store-service systems, in combination two downwardly-extending receiving and sending tubes symmetrically disposed with reference'to a vertical line passing centrally between them, and joined attheir upper ends to the main tubes of the system, a horizontal plateor. frame in the opposite ends of which are secured the lower ends of the tubes, a bypass between said tubes above said horizontal plate for the passage of the air-current from one tube to the other, and suitable doors or flaps'closing the ends of said tubes.

2. In a downward-discharge terminal for pneumatic store-service systems, in combination two downwardly-extending receiving and sending tubes symmetrically disposed with reference to a vertical'line passing centrally betweenthem,'and. joined at their upper ends between said tubes above said horizontalplate for the passage-of the air-current from one tube to'the other, suitable doors or flapsclosingthe-ends of said tubes, and a vertical post or standard having-its upper end secured to the under side of said horizontal plate and serving'as a supportto the terminal.

3. In a downward-discharge terminal for pneumatie store-service systems, in combina- 'tion two downwardly -extending and outwardly and oppositely curved receiving-and sending tubes symmetricallydisposed with reference to a vertical line passing centrally between them, and joined at theirupper ends to theniain tubes of the system, a horizontal plate in the opposite ends of whicharesecured the lowerends of the tubes, 'a-by-pass between-the lower ends of said tubesabove said horizontal plate forthe passage of :the air-'current-from one tube to theother,suitable doors or flaps closing the ends'of said tubes, and a vertical postor standard having its upperend secured to the underside of said horizontal plate centrally thereof,and serving as a support forlthe terminal.

In testimony that Ic'laim the foregoing as myinvention I-have'hereunto signed myname in thepresence of two witnesses.

HUGO XV. FORSLUND.

Witnesses:

SAMUEL N. POND, GEORGE E. HALEY. 

